Spelling Rules Quiz

1. Why do we have double or single letters before –le?
giggle but Google, apple but maple, table but babble, puddle but poodle?

3. Why do we write -ck, -k or -ke at the end of words when they sound the same? For example, luck, cheek, make.

4. Why do we keep the ‘e’ in manageable and noticeable, but drop the ‘e’ with other –able words like believable and excitable.

5. What’s the difference between hoping and hopping, taped but tapped, diner but dinner?

A big clue is in the sound of the words, whether they make a short or long vowel sound, or keeping the sound soft or hard. Read the words again. Watch the video and find out the answers or read below

P.S. Interested in learning all about spelling rules? Then try my Spelling Rules Workbook - it's full of rules and exercises that will improve your spelling. Available in hard copy or ebook version click here

Answers

1. Why do we have double/single letters before –le?
giggle but Google
apple but maple
babble but table,
puddle but poodle

The first column of words have double consonants (giggle, apple, babble, puddle) which indicate a short vowel sound. The second column of words have single consonants (Google, maple, table, poodle) which indicate a long vowel sound. For more on the -le rule check this lesson - click here

2. Why do we write –ck, –k or –ke at the end of words when sound the same? For example, luck, cook, make.

Again this is about short and long vowel sounds.
‘luck’ is a short vowel sound so has a -ck ending.
‘cook’ has two vowels so ends in -k
‘make’ the magic 'e' at the end of the word makes it a long vowel sound so ends in -ke

3. Why do we keep the ‘e’ in manageable and noticeable but drop the ‘e’ with other -able words like believable and excitable
We keep the 'e' with 'g' and 'c' to keep the soft g ("j") and c ("s") sounds.For more about the drop the 'e' rule click here

4.What’s the difference between hoping and hopping, taped but tapped, diner but dinner? And why do we double up the ‘p’ and 'n'?hoping = hope + ing (drop the ‘e’ with –ing and still keep the long vowel sound)hopping = hop + p + ing ( 1:1:1 doubling up rule to keep the short vowel sound)taped = tap(e) + ed (drop the 'e' in tape + long vowel sound)tapped = tap + p + ed ( 1:1:1 doubling up rule to keep the short vowel sound)diner = din(e) + er (drop the 'e' in dine)dinner = double 'n' to keep the short vowel sound

Online Spelling Rules Course

BBC Learning English

BBC Learning English have named How to Spell.co.uk the number 1 site for spelling: "We often get asked questions about spelling and How to Spell.co.uk is a great site and videos... and fantastic games and quizzes..."

Your Spelling Stories

Click here to read people's experience with spelling, education and work. It's very moving. If you want to tell your story then write it down and send it to me.